Reality TV shows: Launching pad to showbiz fame

It has been quite a while since Ricco Venancio from Angola became the third winner of Big Brother Africa (BBA3), taking home the $100 000 cash prize.

Despite this there has been a lot of showbiz buzz about the star, with reports on his steamy affair with a Brazilian model gracing showbiz headlines.

The pair met in Sao Paulo recently. Ricco is said to be so smitten that he is even thinking of asking the model to accompany him back to Angola.

But it is not only Ricco who is providing paparazzi with juicy gossip. Hazel Warren, 26, the Malawian BBA3 finalist is now spilling the beans and stealing the thunder from Ricco.

During an exclusive interview with Pulse this week, Hazel came out talking tough, revealing how she was denied the ‘win’ and revealing her romantic affair with South Africa’s housemate Thami. The steamy affair that started in the Big Brother House has blossomed with wedding bells on the cards.

“I am with Thami. He is the love of my life and this should end speculations. What you saw on camera is what it is. Maybe, I will announce wedding plans when I come to Nairobi for the Idols reunion concert,” Hazel disclosed.

“I don’t think I lost. I still consider myself the winner who never got the money. BBA 3 had two winners for the first time, but what makes the difference is that only one person walked away with the ultimate prize, the money,” she told Pulse during the interview.

“I also think if it had been clear in the beginning as to what would happen incase of a tie, then maybe, the result would have been different. However, that is all gone; it was God’s way of redirecting me to another path…maybe,” she said.

Hazel is still bitter and so are her Malawian fans who still believe Ricco was ‘favoured’. The two finalists had a tie and only one could be announced the winner during the end of the dramatic season which was marred by bisexual scandals, housemate rivalry and bitter outrage from the continent’s conservative class.

“Malawians were not happy at how the tie was broken. To begin with, it was not explained clearly as to how they arrived at the final results. My fans were very disappointed and still are to this day.”

But even after the heartbreak, Hazel came home to a heroic welcome, the biggest ever to be accorded to a BBA participant. There were three Cabinet ministers at the airport to welcome her and had two songs written and recorded in her honour. Malawi’s president sent a message of congratulations to her through the media.

And Hazel now confesses that her steamy love affair which got them exposed before millions of TV fans kissing was not a mere fling. In fact, the two could be wedding soon.

It was this affair which sparked a bitter hatred between Hazel and Kenya’s Sheila Kwamboka in the house. But that is all behind her, just like her hate for Ricco whom she hints will join her for the Idols Nairobi concert.

The Malawian might not have won the big money, but like many other reality TV show participants, Hazel used her popularity as a launching pad for her showbiz life which is now headed towards the right direction.

“I registered a charity foundation, The Hazel Warren Foundation, that will be launched together with my recipe book called Cooking with Hazel. I have been inspired by what Madonna has been doing in support of Malawian kids. I am going into charity work,” she adds.

It is not strange that the ultimate winners in most local and continental reality TV shows do not necessarily end up as the most successful. They may enjoy all the media glitz and the fame that comes with it, but not the fortune.

Gaetano Kagwa, the BBA season 1 Ugandan runner-up and Tanzanian Richard Bezuidenhout the BBA season two winner are doing well both in media and movie production respectively.—The Standard (Kenya)

Tagged with: Big Brother Africa, Hazel Warren

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